A hiring manager usually consults people they know for recommendations on hires, especially temporary or contract personnel; however this can also be said for permanent staffing too.  So getting your name known and talked about can be of vital importance.

But many people just don’t know how to network or realise its importance for their career advancement. It’s possible some people don’t even know what networking is, and unfortunately these people tend to find themselves in limiting roles where they are under-used and don’t feel fulfilled in their careers.  It seems hands-on skills and experience can only get you so far these days, especially when we are in such a difficult economic climate where there are too many job hunters across the struggling industries.  We need to create further opportunities for ourselves.

There is an element of truth in the phrase “it’s about who you know”, or even simpler “getting your foot in the door”; both of which can refer to having met people face-to-face and talked to them about who you are and what you do, giving them a better impression. 

Here are a few examples of techniques that can be used for effective networking across a variety of markets and business sectors.

1. Get to know your recruitment agency consultant if you are using one. Even if they did not land you your current role, talk to them about your requirements and expectations when you get to your new company.  Even if you don’t have hires to make, taking the time to talk to them is a great way to keep that relationship alive in the future.  You never know when you’ll need to call on old contacts so keep these bridges open.  If you ever make a hire as a manager, even better, as you can return the favour and use the recruitment consultant.

2. Get involved in your community. Find a community initiative, project, charity, or join an advisory council and start volunteering.  Even if you are currently unemployed, doing voluntary work (and of course, performing the work well) will demonstrate your value to peers.  If you prove your value they’ll go out of their way to help you.  Having voluntary community or charity work on your resume shows a selflessness and support of others, possibly also team work. Any experience of fund-raising is often viewed in good favour too as it demonstrates trust and responsibility.  Charitable events are often attended by business people and other professionals, and this is an ideal opportunity for you to mingle with key decision makers and influential characters.

3. Start browsing web-blogs, technical forums, ‘Tweets’, and other social networking sites. If you’re used to technical user groups, try expanding your habits towards other community-based websites where something draws users together.  These sites allow you to do searches by subjects that may appeal to you or may have user groups on a special theme; and depending on how the site works, you can easily find people that could be good resources if you’re ever looking for a job or doing research. 

4. Go to events and mingle. Learn how to work a room at events such as recruitment and career fairs, technical seminars and presentations, council-led business awareness presentations, product shows, demonstrations, etc.  Walk around observing people and see what draws them to particular speakers.  Wait with other people at stands where someone is speaking and listen for key things that you can recall and make reference to in conversation.  This could be anything from product specifications, business information, processes used, business partners, the style in which they present and speak publically, visual displays or aids used to support the presentation, or images in logos.  What you’re looking for is an opportunity to create a familiarity or connection where you can ‘click’ with whoever you talk to and do your magic.  Once you’re confident you have the tools you need to engage in conversation, work out who want your targets to be.  This may be obvious if you’re actually next to someone as the opportunity will present itself more naturally, or you might have to scan the room a little and move around.  Catch people’s eyes and introduce yourself, showing a genuine interest in learning about them, what they do and who they are. The rest will come easily as many people are in the same boat at these sorts of events, and always hope for someone else to make the move first.

5. Return favours and then pay it forward. If someone in your network helped you get a job or at least a good client contact, make sure you thank them.  When they in turn, call you for help, don’t turn them away.  If they ask for your advice on something, give it.  These relationships always pay off, and not just career-wise or financially.  It’s all about developing contacts that you can use in mutually beneficial opportunities throughout your life and career. 

6. Sway people you know and have relationships with, to make introductions. This isn’t about taking advantage of your friends and loved ones for personal gain. It’s about using contacts you already have, to see if they can provide a link to someone else.  Consider it something like the “six degrees of separation”, where you are six networking ‘hops’ away from a particular person.  To get to speak to that person, you need to get access through other people you already have a relationship with.  Your request shouldn’t be forceful or tactless, but respectful and have good motive.  By all means, influence your own contacts by offering a favour in return, a discount, special deal, networking connection, etc.  Let it clearly be a two-way show of support and good-will that can be returned when required.  By meeting for lunch with a friend and their associates to discuss interesting ideas or processes gives you the opportunity to learn about someone new that your friend respects and trusts.  Just remember that these people trust your friend, so don’t do anything to put that trust in jeopardy.  Respect the contact for who they are to your friend.

7. Arm yourself with a ‘business pack’.  A ‘business pack’ is a summary of who you are and what you do, either as a company or as an individual.  It can be both handed out to people to read in their own time, or as visual aids during conversation.  It may contain a selection of promotional material such as the all-important business cards, company fliers, headed notepaper, printed pens, etc, that you can hand to potential sales prospects or useful contacts.  If you are forearmed with the right promotional information, then you will certainly get yourself noticed and will come across very professional and organised.  Anything you consider handing out should be well printed and neat with no print spillage.  If it’s been cut it out by hand, make sure all crop-marks are carefully removed by guillotine so you have straight edges and no stray lines or dots.  Business cards are a convenient way to quickly give out your name and contact details. They should be clear and neat, and not be graphically overpowering.

Networking essentials: Take every opportunity to meet new people, learn about them and what they do.  Get names and contact details.  Identify what they have that you can benefit from, and equally what you have that they may need or can benefit from.  Establish a rapport and break down any barriers through social interaction and open communication.  Find ways to demonstrate your value to others and always pay it forward.